Network transceiver for extending the bandwidth of optical fiber-based network infrastructure

ABSTRACT

A multimode wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network transceiver and method includes a plurality of optical transmitters and a multiplexer operatively connected to each optical transmitter for receiving optical communications signals and multiplexing the signals into a multimode wavelength division multiplexed optical communications signal. A demultiplexer receives a multimode wavelength division multiplexed optical communications signal and demultiplexes the signal into a plurality of demultiplexed optical communications signals that are then received and detected within a plurality of optical receivers.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon prior filed provisional application Ser.No. 60/254,724 filed Dec. 11, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to time division multiplexing networks, such asan Ethernet infrastructure, and more particularly, this inventionrelates to expanding the bandwidth of an optical fiber-based timedivision multiplexed network infrastructure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Time division multiplexing networks, such as an Ethernet infrastructure,are increasingly becoming important in the technology of today. Thebandwidth used on such networks require periodic increases as more usersare added, larger files are transferred, and more complicated programsrun on servers and workstations. The infrastructures vary on design, andinclude 10 Mb/S (10 Base-T), 100 Mb/S (100 Base-T), and 1,250 Mb/S(1,000 Base-T). Typically, to increase an Ethernet bandwidth, the datarate was increased, such as operating from an original 10 Base-T systemto a 100 Base-T system.

It has been found that increasing the data rate transmission inmultimode fiber is severely limited by modal dispersion. One methodcurrently used for combatting the modal dispersion degradation is to usenewly developed multimode fiber designs, such as InfiCore, whichrequires replacing existing fiber infrastructures. This can beexpensive, especially in some metropolitan areas where it is costprohibitive to add additional or replace optical fiber lines. Forexample, in a major metropolitan area, to replace or add fiber lineswould require obtaining many permits from municipal authorities and manyworker hours in replacing or adding additional cables under existingstreets. Also, prior art wavelength channels in some multiplex schemeshave been wide, at about 3,000 gigahertz.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to expand thebandwidth of an existing optical communications network without thedrawbacks of the prior art.

The present invention is advantageous and builds on existing network,e.g., Ethernet components, and existing fiber infrastructure. The systemtechnical approach is extensible to higher channel counts and higherdata rates to achieve higher aggregate information capacity.

In one aspect of the present invention, a multimode wavelength divisionmutliplexing (WDM) network transceiver includes a plurality of opticaltransmitters for transmitting optical communications signals alongrespective signal paths. A multiplexer is operatively connected to eachoptical transmitter and receives the optical communications signals andmultiplexes the optical communications signals into multimode wavelengthdivision multiplexed optical communications signal having wavelengthchannel spacings less than about 1,000 gigahertz. A demultiplexerreceives a multimode wavelength division multiplexed opticalcommunications signal and demultiplexes the signal into a plurality ofdemultiplexed optical communications signals. A plurality of opticalreceivers are each matched with a respective optical transmitter andreceives and detects a respective demultiplexed optical communicationssignal.

In one aspect of the present invention, the optical receiver comprises aPIN Detector. The PIN detector comprises an InGaAS PIN detector. It alsoincludes a transimpedance amplifier. In yet another aspect of thepresent invention, the transmitter comprises a distributed feedbacklaser and a thermoelectric cooler and controller circuit.

In still another aspect of the present invention, an attenuator ispositioned within a signal channel between each optical transmitter andthe multiplexer. A single mode optical fiber defines a signal channelbetween the attenuator and the optical transmitter, and a multimodeoptical fiber defines a signal channel between the attenuator andmultiplexer. A transceiver is electrically connected to each opticaltransmitter and matched optical receiver for receiving and transmittingan optical communications signal. The transceiver is operative at afirst wavelength band and the optical transmitter and matched opticalreceiver are operative at a second wavelength band, which is upconvertedfrom the first wavelength band.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the network transceiverincludes physical sublayer chip circuits operatively connected to aplurality of optical transmitters and matched optical receivers. Anelectrical interface is operatively connected to the physical sublayerchip circuit. The electrical interface comprises a plurality of RJ-45jacks Ethernet 1,000 Base-T connection. A serial/deserializer (SERDES)circuit is operatively connected to an optical transmitter and matchedoptical receiver. A switch circuit is operatively connected to theserial/deserializer circuit and a physical sublayer chip circuit andelectrical interface are operatively connected to the switch circuit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a multiport network hubincludes a plurality of transceiver boards, each having a networkinterface connection to a network and a switch circuit operativelyconnected to the network interface. At least one optical transmitterreceives signals from the network on the network interface and transmitsoptical communications signals. At least one optical receiver is matchedwith the at least one optical transmitter for receiving and detecting anoptical communications signal and generating a signal to the network viathe network interface. A processor is operatively connected to theswitch circuit for controlling same. A bus interconnects each processorand a wavelength division multiplexer is operatively connected to eachoptical transmitter for multiplexing the optical communications signalsinto a multimode wavelength division multiplexed optical communicationssignal. A demultiplexer is operatively connected to each opticalreceiver and receives and demultiplexes multimode wavelength divisionmultiplexed optical communications signal into a plurality ofdemultiplexed optical communications signals.

A method is also disclosed of expanding the bandwidth of an existingoptical communications network by transmitting optical communicationssignals from a plurality of optical transmitters positioned alongrespective signal channels. The optical communications signals aremultiplexed into a multimode wavelength division multiplexed opticalcommunications signal. A demultiplexer demultiplexes a multimodewavelength division multiplexed optical communications signal into aplurality of optical communications signals along respective signalchannels that are receiving detected signals with optical receivers thatare matched with the optical transmitters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description of the invention whichfollows, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary Ethernet infrastructure having amultimode WDM network transceiver of the present invention connected toEthernet servers and respective Ethernet switches.

FIG. 1A illustrates a plurality of Ethernet switchers connected viamultimode optical fiber to the multimode WDM network transceiver of thepresent invention as used in an Ethernet infrastructure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary Ethernet infrastructureand showing a use of the multimode WDM network transceivers of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a high level block diagram showing basic components of anexample of a multimode WDM network transceiver of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a high level block diagram of a transmitter module that can beused in the multimode WDM network transceiver of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a high level block diagram of another example of a multimodeWDM network transceiver of the present invention, which allows multiplechannels to be combined into a single multimode fiber allowing increaseddata throughput on an existing local area network (LAN) architecture.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another example of a multimode WDM networktransceiver as an exemplary Ethernet converter, which allows a multiport1,000 base-T connection and conversion to a gigabyte WDM signal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another example of a multimode WDM networktransceiver of the present invention and showing an exemplary Ethernethub that implements direct conversion from 10/100 copper to gigabytewavelength division multiplexed signals.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the Ethernet hub of FIG. 7, showing anetwork application on various floors of a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

An apparatus and method of the present invention includes a multimodewavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network transceiver that allowsthe bandwidth extension of an optical fiber-based wavelength divisionmultiplexed network infrastructure, such as an Ethernet infrastructureas a non-limiting example, using multimode wavelength divisionmultiplexer technology. Throughout this description, the apparatus andmethod of the present invention is described relative to an Ethernetinfrastructure. The invention, however, can be applied to any networkinfrastructure having time division multiplexed transparentcapabilities. Ethernet is only one type of format that can be used inthe present invention.

As noted before, prior art practices increase the Ethernet bandwidth byincreasing the data rate of signals within the infrastructure, such as10 Mb/S (10 base-T), 100 Mb/S (100 base-T), and 1,250 Mb/S (1000base-T). Increasing the data rate transmission in multimode fiber islimited, however, by modal dispersion. Placing additional lines in someareas is cost prohibitive. For example, it is cost prohibitive to addadditional optical fiber lines under a street in a crowded metropolitanarea. The present invention advantageously increases the networkbandwidth, e.g., Ethernet bandwidth, using multimode fiber-basedwavelength division multiplexing techniques by building on the existingnetwork components and existing fiber infrastructures. It is extensibleto higher channel counts and higher data rates to achieve higheraggregate information capacity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network 10 as an Ethernet infrastructure, havingpersonal computers 12 connected via regular network wiring connections14, known to those skilled in the art, to 1.25 Gb network, e.g.,Ethernet, switches 16. The Ethernet infrastructure 10 includes serversas illustrated at 18, where three 1.25 Gb servers are shown. The servers18 are operatively connected to the multimode WDM network transceiver 20of the present invention and operatively connected to existing multimodeoptical fiber 22 and a second multimode WDM network transceiver 20 a,which is operatively connected to the 1.25 Gb network, e.g., Ethernet,switches 16. Although the term “multimode WDM network transceiver 20” isused throughout the description, it should be understood that in thecontext of the Ethernet infrastructure 10 of FIG. 1, the transceiver isan exemplary multimode wavelength division multiplexed Ethernettransceiver that is operative from about 1.25-20 Gb/s. It can be usedfor various products as further explained below, including but notlimited to, an Ethernet transceiver, an Ethernet converter and multiportEthernet hub.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing another example of the multimode WDMnetwork transceiver 20 that operatively connected to 16 differentEthernet switches 24, via 1.25 Gb/s Ethernet multimode fiber 26 and tothe existing optical multimode link fiber 28 for transmitting andreceiving data signals. The transceiver 20, in one embodiment, is formedas a separate module that is operatively connected to existing Ethernetand other network components. It is operative with up to about 16channels of 1.25 Gb/s, 200 GHz through 400 GHz spaced WDM opticalcommunications signals. The system is operative with short haul localarea network on 62.5 micrometers or 50 micrometer multimode fiber orsingle mode fiber. The multimode WDM network transceiver can be formedon one printed wiring circuit board (or other chassis or other knowntype of circuit board), and inserted into a conventional 19″ or similarrack. The transceiver can be rack mounted in a 5 U ventilated chassis orslice apparatus, as known to those skilled in the art. The transceiver20 is operative at different wavelengths, and particularly the ITU gridof 1550.XXX nanometer wavelengths known to those skilled in the art. Thetransceiver 20 is Ethernet compatible and is also transparent to othertime division multiplexing (TDM) formats, such as 100 base-FX andsimilar existing standards.

The present invention advantageously allows 2-16 channels of Gb Ethernetto be combined into a single multimode fiber, allowing up to 20 Gb/sdata throughput on an existing LAN structure. In one aspect of thepresent invention, it is scalable to 16 channels and uses a multiplexerwith a standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) 1×16 coupler, and ademultiplexer filter based on a bulk detraction grating and 50 or 62.5micrometer multimode fiber. It advantageously reuses the existingmultimode link fiber and compatible with existing standards and reusesexisting equipment. It has a greater reach with a direct interface toexisting equipment and “as needed” modular channel upgrades.

The transceiver 20 of the present invention uses transmitters, such as2.5 Gb/s directly modulated distributed feedback (DFB) laser moduleswith integrated thermoelectric cooler (TEC), temperature control,optical power control and laser driver circuitry. The receivers can use2.5 Gb/s, InGaAS PIN diodes with integrated transimpedance amplifier(TIA), post amplifier, positive emitter coupled logic (PECL) driver andsignal detect. The transceiver, in one aspect of the present invention,has an interface to existing 1.25 Gb Ethernet backbone with 850nanometer transceivers and ST couplers for multimode fiber connection.

Although not illustrated in detail, the transceiver 20 could beincorporated in a separate housing, such as a module box, with frontpanel light emitting diode (LED) indicators used for each channel, suchas an 850 nanometer signal detect (green), a WDM signal detect (green),a WDM launch power (red), and WDM wavelength error (red). The powersupply could be a 200 watt supply with 3.3 volt, 5 volt and 12 voltoutputs with thermoelectric coolers at 3.3 volts and 11 amps. Thereceivers and transceivers could be operative at 3.3 volts and 1.5 ampswith laser control circuits at 5 volts and 0.2 amps and ventilation fanswith 12 volts and 0.4 amp operation. Although the above specificationsare only non-limiting examples, they give a detailed example of the typeof components, circuits, and specifications operative with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of how the transceiver 20 is operativewith Ethernet switches 30 having 1,000 BSX ports with one built in andtwo add-ons that are operatively connected to 10/100 megabyteworkstations 32 via 100 megabyte copper interconnects 34, as part of anEthernet infrastructure. Another Ethernet switch 36 is connected to 1000Mb servers 38 and a second transceiver 20 a via 1000 BSX multimode fiber40.

FIG. 3 illustrates a multimode WDM network transceiver 20 that can beincorporated onto one circuit board 42 and operative at 10 Gb/s. Thetransceiver 20 can be operative up to 20 Gb/s or more when additionalcomponents are added. The board 42 is only shown with sufficientcomponents to allow 10 Gb/s data throughputs, as a non-limiting example.

The rear interface 44 to the existing link fiber is positioned at therear of the board or module box and connects to the multimode fiber viaa receive port 46 and transmit port 48, as illustrated. A frontinterface 50 to existing equipment allows fiber to be brought in and outas a plug-in to the front of the board or module box. The frontinterface 50 is compatible to existing equipment, as known to thoseskilled in the art, such as standard Ethernet equipment. The frontinterface 50 includes the transmit and receive fiber connectors 52,54(or ports) that interconnect existing optical fiber into 850 nanometertransceivers 56, as a non-limiting example. Eight 850 nanometertransceivers 56 are illustrated to allow 10 Gb/s multimode WDM networkdata transfer as one example of the present invention. In a 20 Gb/smultimode WDM network transceiver board 42, as an example, sixteen 850nanometer transceivers would be used and would connect as a directinterface to existing equipment.

The transceivers 56 are connected via a 50 ohm, AC coupled differential,LV positive emitter coupled logic (PECL) connection 58 to a WDMintegrated optical transmitter module 60, operative in the 1500.XXnanometer wavelength band. A receiver 62 is preferably formed as anintegrated PIN receiver, including InGaAS PIN diodes. It includes atransimpedance amplifier (TIA) and postamplifier operative therewith.The WDM integrated transmitter module 60 is connected via single modefiber 64 to an attenuator 66, which in turn, is connected with singlemode fiber 68 and operative with a combiner/multiplexer 70, whichmultiplexes the optical communications signals from the single modefiber to transmit over one multimode fiber at the transmit port 48. Theintegrated PIN receiver 62 is connected to multimode fiber 72, which isconnected to a filter 74 that is an 8 or 16 channel demultiplexer (8channel illustrated), which filters out the different wavelengthsreceived on the existing link fiber into the separate wavelengths bytechniques known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a WDM integrated transmittermodule 60 that can be used in the present invention and is operative atthe wavelengths, such as illustrated in FIG. 3. The optical transmitter60 includes standard optics, using diodes 76, thermoelectric cooler(TEC) 78, a controller circuit 80 that acts as a laser driver andcontrol circuit, and an appropriate temperature control circuit 82 andmonitor and alarm circuit 84. Various output/input ports 86 are used foroperation and interconnection. The transmitter 60 can be formed as adistributed feedback laser circuit.

The optical transmitter 60 can be operative on a single siliconintegrated circuit with a back facet diode as a feedback element with aclosed loop control system. Such types of devices are manufactured andsold by various companies, including Nortel Networks Corporation as a2.488 Gb/s WDM transmitter module. The optical transmitter can includeinputs that are AC coupled with 100 ohm differential impedance and avoltage swing for PECL/ECL. The laser device can be a distributedfeedback laser with optical isolation, laser drive, automatic laserpower control and monitoring function with the thermoelectric cooler, tomaintain constant laser temperature and wavelength. The transmitter caninclude standard microprocessor based control circuits having an opticaloutput via a single mode pigtail that can be fitted with various singlemode optical connectors, as known to those skilled in the art.

The various output/input ports 86 and associated circuit functionsinclude a transmitter disable for enabling and disabling the laser and alaser bias current monitor that provides an analog voltage output forlaser bias current, indicating a change of laser threshold as the laserages. A bias out-of-limits alarm can be activated when there is afailure of the laser or when the laser EOL characteristics are about tobe met. Temperature monitoring provides a voltage output for a lasersubmount temperature and a temperature alarm can provide an appropriatealarm with threshold. The modulation input allows amplitude modulationfor wavelength tagging while appropriate power supply inputs can befiltered.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate three different embodiments of the presentinvention. FIG. 5 illustrates a 1,000 Base-SX (or LX) to 10 Gb/s (or 20Gb/s) Ethernet transceiver 100, where short wavelength lasertransceivers or multimedia fiber support lengths of 300 meters (using62.5 micrometer multimode fiber) or 550 meters (using 50 micrometermultimode fiber) can be operable. 1,000 Base-LX long wavelength lasertransceivers can also be used for transmission facilities. An SX or LXtransceiver 102 is connected via positive emitter coupled logic (PECL)circuit 104 to the transmitter module 60 having distributed feedbacklaser and operative at a first wavelength and to the InGaAS PIN receiver62. Eight receivers and transmitters are illustrated, and operative ateight wavelengths λ1 to λ8, which are operative on eight signalchannels. The eight wavelength signal channels and associatedtransmitters and receivers are connected to the WDM multiplexer 70 andfilter 74 as described before with optical fiber connections fortransmit and receive ports. This example of the present invention allowseight (or 16 if 16 transceivers are used) channels of SX or LX GbEthernet to be combined into a single, duplex, multimode fiber allowing10 (or 20) Gb/s data throughput on the existing local area network (LAN)architecture.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention usingsimilar components, but showing an eight port 1,000 Base-T to 10 Gb/sEthernet converter 110, which could be a 16 port 1,000 Base-T to 20 Gb/sEthernet converter when 16 electrical input channels and appropriatecomponents are used. As illustrated, the 1,000 Base-T Ethernetconnection is used with RJ-45 couplers 112 that are connected totransformers (XFMR) 114 using circuit principles known to those skilledin the art. The transformers 114 are operative with quad gigabytephysical sublayer chips 116 (PHY) and a gigabyte medium independentinterface (GMII) circuit 118 to the quad gigabyte physical sublayerchips (PHY) (PECL I/F) 120, as known to those skilled in the art. TheGMII interface 118 could define independent parallel transmit andreceive synchronous data interfaces and allows a chip-to-chip interfaceto mixed Media Access Control (MAC) and physical sublayer components.The GMII interface 118 is operative with the pairs of quad Gb physicalsublayer components 116, 120, as illustrated. The positive emittercoupled logic (PECL) quad gigabyte PHY 120 is operative with thetransmitters 60, having the DFB laser modules, and operative with theInGaAS PIN receivers 62, the filter/demultiplexer and multiplexer.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the present inventionforming a 96 10/100 port Ethernet hub 130 having a 10 Gb/s uplink. Asillustrated, four separate transceiver boards 132 a-d are connected viaa PCI bus 134, and operable with a CPU 136 and memory unit 138 into a10/100/1000 switch device 139. The switch device is operative with theoctal physical sublayer chips (PHY) 140 and RJ-45 input ports 142. Theswitch device 139 is operative with gigabyte serializer/deserializer(SERDES) 144 and is typically monolithically formed with clock recoveryand clock multiplication with multiple interfaces, back plane, cablesand optical modules. As known to those skilled in the art, the SERDES144 is also typically formed as an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) transceiver core that provides for integrated, ultra-highspeed bidirectional point-to-point data transmission over variousimpedance media. The SERDES connects through the DFB transmitter 60 andPIN receiver 62 of the type as described before, and into theappropriate combiner/multiplexer and demultiplexer/filter using themultimode fiber at transmit and receive ports to form the 10 Gb/s portas illustrated. Thus, the hub allows direct conversion from 10/100copper to 10 Gb/s WDM optical link.

FIG. 8 shows a network application with the 1,000 base-SX (4 LX) tomulti-gigabyte (10-20) Ethernet transceiver of the present invention andshowing on floor one a server farm with floor 2, floor 3 and floor 4having various Ethernet hubs 130 of the present invention connected tovarious workstations 146 as illustrated.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that themodifications and embodiments are intended to be included within thescope of the dependent claims.

1-28. (canceled)
 29. A multiport network hub comprising: a plurality oftransceiver boards, each having a network interface for connection to anetwork, a switch circuit operatively connected to the networkinterface, at least one optical transmitter for receiving signals from anetwork via the network interface and transmitting opticalcommunications signals, at least one optical receiver matched with theat least one optical transmitter for receiving and detecting an opticalcommunications signal and generating a signal to the network via thenetwork interface, and a processor operatively connected to said switchcircuit for controlling same; a bus interconnecting each processor; awavelength division multiplexer operatively connected to each opticaltransmitter for multiplexing the optical communications signals into amultimode wavelength division multiplexed optical communications signal;and a demultiplexer operatively connected to each optical receiver forreceiving and demultiplexing multimode wavelength division multiplexedoptical communications signal into a plurality of demultiplexed opticalcommunications signals.
 30. A multiport network hub according to claim29, wherein said optical receiver comprises a PIN detector.
 31. Amultiport network hub according to claim 30, wherein said PIN detectorcomprises an InGaAS PIN detector.
 32. A multiport network hub accordingto claim 29, wherein said optical receiver comprises an Avalanche PhotoDiode (APD).
 33. A multiport network hub according to claim 32, whereinsaid APD comprises an InGaAS detector.
 34. A multiport network hubaccording to claim 30, wherein said optical receiver further comprises atransimpedance amplifier.
 35. A multiport network hub according to claim29, wherein said optical transmitter comprises a distributed feedbacklaser.
 36. A multiport network hub according to claim 29, wherein saidoptical transmitter comprises a thermoelectric cooler and controllercircuit.
 37. A multiport network hub according to claim 29, wherein saidnetwork interface is operative with an Ethernet infrastructure.
 38. Amultiport network hub according to claim 37, wherein said networkinterface comprises a plurality of RJ-45 jacks.
 39. A multiport networkhub according to claim 29, and further comprising a serial/deserializer(SERDES) interface circuit operatively connected between each of anoptical transmitter and matched optical receiver and the switch circuit.40. A multiport network hub according to claim 29, wherein said networkinterface further comprises octal physical sublayer chip circuits.
 41. Amultiport network hub according to claim 29, wherein a channel spacingis less than about 1,000 gigahertz. 42-45. (canceled)